Germany's Merz: Ukraine's EU membership in 2027 is unrealistic

Olha Hlushchenko - 29 January, 01:12

Friedrich Merz. Photo: Getty Images

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Ukraine joining the European Union on 1 January 2027 is not possible.

Source: German news agency dpa citing Merz

Details: Merz made the remarks on Wednesday 28 January after talks with his coalition partners in Berlin.

Quote from Merz: "Accession on 1 January 2027, is out of the question. It's not possible."

Details: Merz noted that any country seeking to join the EU must first meet the Copenhagen criteria, a process that usually takes several years.

Meanwhile, he stressed that Ukraine needs a credible perspective that would pave the way for membership in the longer term.

Quote from Merz: "We can slowly bring Ukraine closer to the European Union along the way."

"That is always possible, but such a rapid accession is simply not feasible."

Details: Commenting on the end of the war with Russia, Merz said that there are currently other priorities.

Quote from Merz: "We are in close contact with the US and Ukrainian delegations. We have also drafted the documents together, and it is good that direct talks are now being held between Ukraine and Russia."

"We are accompanying these talks with great support and the great hope that they will come to a conclusion as soon as possible."

Details: Dpa noted that Merz's comments had come after his party colleague and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had said that Ukraine deserves a fair chance to join the EU.

Quote from Wadephul: "A lasting peace architecture in Europe requires that Ukraine has a fair chance of joining the European Union."

Details: Wadephul did not comment on a possible date for accession.

However, he made it clear that, as with candidates from the Western Balkans, there can be no shortcuts for Kyiv.

Quote from Wadephul: "One of the key security guarantees that we can give Ukraine at this time, and in my view must give, is a realistic prospect of joining the European Union."

Details: Wadephul said that such a step might seem distant at present. However, he argued that ensuring Ukraine's victory in its fight against Russian aggression remains in the interests of Germany and Europe.

Background:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU and the United States are close to an agreement on a "prosperity plan" for Ukraine based on five pillars: productivity, Ukraine's integration into the EU market, investment, strengthening donor coordination and reforms.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that EU leaders at an EU summit were presented with a confidential European Commission document that envisages Ukraine joining the European Union by 2027.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to Orbán's pledge to block Ukraine's EU accession for 100 years, saying the Hungarian prime minister was overstating his influence over the process.

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